Three Liberal MPs have emerged as the most likely contenders for the party’s leadership following the decisive federal election loss.
Outgoing Liberal leader Peter Dutton lost his Brisbane-based seat to a Labor challenger, meaning the party will now elect a new leader.
Here’s the rundown of how the Liberal Party will choose its next leader, and who is in the running.
Coalition
The Coalition is made up of the Liberal and National parties.
Under the Coalition agreement, the Liberal Party elects the overall leader, while the National Party takes the deputy leadership.
The leader of a party usually sits in the lower house. That means senior Liberals who are Senators, like Jane Hume, likely won’t lead the party.
Counting shows there are currently 24 Liberal MPs that have won their lower house seat in Parliament.
Angus Taylor
Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor is viewed as a likely option for the leadership.
Taylor has held his NSW seat of Hume since 2013 and previously served as a senior minister under former Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
TDA understands that some internal party powerbrokers back Taylor.
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Sussan Ley
Deputy Leader Sussan Ley is currently the Liberal Party’s acting leader after Dutton lost his seat.
She has held numerous senior portfolios, including Women, Skills and Training, and the Environment (under Morrison).
Ley has been in Parliament since 2001 and is one of the more experienced MPs of the remaining Liberals.
Dan Tehan
Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan is likely to contend for the Liberals’ top job after holding his regional Victorian seat of Wannon, withstanding a challenge from independent candidate and ex-Triple J presenter Alex Dyson.
Tehan was Morrison’s Trade Minister.
Before entering Parliament in 2010, he worked for the peak business body, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
